Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, is one of the most important religious feasts in Christian Churches and denominations, whether Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. Many Orthodox Christians, particularly Russian celebrate Christmas on 7th January, rather then on 25th December like the rest of Christianity. This is because the Christian Orthodox Church traditionally follows the Julian calendar, created by Julius Caesar in 45BC, rather than the Gregorian Calendar created by Pope Gregory in 1582. So, actually they do celebrate Christmas on the 25 th December on the Julian calendar which corresponds to the 7th January on the Gregorian calendar. In some orthodox countries, including Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria that have adopted the Gregorian Calendar, Christmas is celebrated on the 25th December. Many Orthodox countries use the Gregorian calendar for the administrative purposes and social life but revert to the Julian calendar for religious festivities and celebrations. On January 6th, Christmas eve, orthodox Christians traditionally fast until the appearance of the first star in the sky symbolising the birth of Jesus Christ, after which they partake of the Christmas Eve dinner which does not include alcoholic drinks and consists in twelve traditional dishes symbolising the 12 apostles. Midnight Mass is celebrated with great pomp in Orthodox churches but those who do not go to midnight Mass go to the morning one. Orthodox Christians do no normally give Christmas presents; instead they give gifts on the feast of St Nicholas on 19th December or on New Year’s eve.
